The Club is anxious to ensure that members are able to be safe when taking part in SWRC rides. In the event of adverse weather conditions, the Club Runs Secretary will decide whether planned rides can go ahead. In addition, ride leaders may choose to cancel rides at their discretion if they feel weather conditions make the proposed ride potentially unsafe.
The most obvious risk is that arising from icy roads due to cold weather. If the weather forecast on the Met Office mobile phone app for Cobham, Betchworth or Effingham is at or below zero at any time during the night before the ride and is likely to be below 3 degrees centigrade by the time of the planned start, then the ride will be cancelled.
At the other end of the spectrum are extreme heat conditions i.e., 30° C or above; or if a National Emergency warning is issued, rides will not be posted, and members advised via Spond.
In reaching the decision, in some circumstances the ride will be cancelled when these threshold figures have not been reached. For example, when the roads have been particularly wet and it is judged that there may be icy surfaces at rather higher temperatures.
In addition, there may be other conditions which are less amenable to precise definition where cancellation is appropriate. For example, those arising from extreme temperatures up to 30° C and above, heavy rain, high winds or thunder and lightning.
Ride Leaders may choose to cancel a ride if the forecast show high wind speeds, especially if gusty.
Rides may be adapted or cancelled if a Met Office Amber warning is issued, and all rides will be cancelled if a Red warning is issued.
A ride may be cancelled at any time up to the start of the ride, but every effort will be made to decide by midnight on the day before. The decision will be sent via the Spond App.
Members are free to continue in the event of a cancellation, but they should be aware that it will not be an SWRC ride.
